Saturday, May 15, 2010

Sugar

I have pre-diabetes and am trying to learn about carbohydrate and sugar. Does the sugar in fruit count as sugar?

Sugar is carbohydrate. When someone has diabetes, they must carefully monitor their carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrate is found in the foods we eat and high amounts are found in the starch, dairy, and fruit food groups. When carbohydrate is digested in our body, it is broken down in our body as glucose (aka blood sugar); this is what our body uses as fuel. Due to insulin resitance, those with diabetes most monitor their carbohydrate intake carefully for optimal control of their glucose levels.

As mentioned above, fruit is a carbohydrate. Fruit contains natural sugars and while it is good to eat, diabetics still need to monitor their fruit intake.

Too much of anything is never a good thing. It is important to eat a balanced diet with foods from all the food groups as well as make smart choices. While carbohydrate intake needs to be monitored, there are better choices than others; fruit is loaded with nutrition, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, where as a candy bar is not nearly as nutritionally dense- even though both foods are considered high carbohydrate foods. Choosing nutritionally dense foods such as whole grain breads and pastas, whole fruits, and low fat dairy products should be moderately incorporated into a balanced diet to acheive optimal nutritional benefits and good glucose control.

So, in summary, yes- fruit is considered carbohydrate, but should still be included in your diet. Variety is key- eat the rainbow!

About Me

I'm a registered dietitian (RD) currently working in the clinical sector.
I received my BS in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Women's Studies from the University of Connecticut and completed my dietetic internship at East Carolina University.